How to enable C++17 compiling in Visual Studio?

156
votes

I want to use C++17 features.

How can I switch compiling from C++14 to C++17 in Microsoft Visual Studio?

Or it's not avaiable in release versions of VS?

6
c++visual-studiocompilationc++17
Which C++17 features? Which version of Visual Studio? If you're asking about C++17 why did you tag your question c++11 and c++14? - ildjarn
c++17 wasn't available, and I thought that those who are interested in specific versions of C++ knows better how to switch it. For example I want std::vector.emplace_back() to give back a reference to the newly created element. I know that +1 line, and I get that reference, But I would like to know the answer to my question anyway. VS Community 2015 (14.0.25431.01 Update 3) - Tudvari
You should probably check here: blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/visualstudio - Mikel F
You can't enable specific language dialects in VS, you get whatever they've implemented. You might have pretty good luck with standard library features voted into C++17 if you're using VS21015, but not so much with language features. - Praetorian
@preat MSVC 2017 has a "latest" setting, but that is not released yet. - Yakk - Adam Nevraumont

6 Answers

222
votes

There's now a drop down (at least since VS 2017.3.5) where you can specifically select C++17. The available options are (under project > Properties > C/C++ > Language > C++ Language Standard)

  • ISO C++14 Standard. msvc command line option: /std:c++14
  • ISO C++17 Standard. msvc command line option: /std:c++17
  • The latest draft standard. msvc command line option: /std:c++latest

(I bet, once C++20 is out and more fully supported by Visual Studio it will be /std:c++20)

34
votes

MSBuild (Visual Studio project/solution *.vcproj/*.sln):

Add to Additional options in Project Settings: /std:c++latest to enable latest features - currently C++17 as of VS2017, VS2015 Update 3.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vcblog/2016/06/07/standards-version-switches-in-the-compiler/

/permissive- will disable non-standard C++ extensions and will enable standard conformance in VS2017.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vcblog/2016/11/16/permissive-switch/

EDIT (Oct 2018): The latest VS2017 features are documented here:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/cpp/build/reference/std-specify-language-standard-version

VS2017 supports: /std:[c++14|c++17|c++latest] now. These flags can be set via the project's property pages:

To set this compiler option in the Visual Studio development environment

  1. Open the project's Property Pages dialog box. For details, see Working with Project Properties.
  2. Select Configuration Properties, C/C++, Language.
  3. In C++ Language Standard, choose the language standard to support from the dropdown control, then choose OK or Apply to save your changes.

CMake:

Visual Studio 2017 (15.7+) supports CMake projects. CMake makes it possible to enable modern C++ features in various ways. The most basic option is to enable a modern C++ standard by setting a target's property in CMakeLists.txt:

add_library (${PROJECT_NAME})
set_property (TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME}
  PROPERTY
    # Enable C++17 standard compliance
    CXX_STANDARD 17
)

In the case of an interface library:

add_library (${PROJECT_NAME} INTERFACE)
target_compile_features (${PROJECT_NAME}
  INTERFACE
    # Enable C++17 standard compliance
    cxx_std_17
)
6
votes

If bringing existing Visual Studio 2015 solution into Visual Studio 2017 and you want to build it with c++17 native compiler, you should first Retarget the solution/projects to v141 , THEN the dropdown will appear as described above ( Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> Language -> Language Standard)

4
votes

Visual studio 2019 version:

The drop down menu was moved to:

  • Right click on project (not solution)
  • Properties (or Alt + Enter)
  • From the left menu select Configuration Properties
  • General
  • In the middle there is an option called "C++ Language Standard"
  • Next to it is the drop down menu
  • Here you can select Default, ISO C++ 14, 17 or latest
0
votes

VS Code 2020 version

In tasks.json file, (after you build and debug with the g++-9)

Add -std=c++2a for 2020 features (c++1z for 2017 features). Add -fconcepts to use concept keyword

"args": [
   "-std=c++2a",
   "-fconcepts",
   "-g",
   "${file}",
   "-o",
   "${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}"
],

now compile and you can use the 2020 features.